Encore Status Entertainment

Disco Design by Jacob Mathew

Interview by Mike Barakat

We had a chance to speak to Jacob Mathew. He is an artist/designer who has used the audio speaker as the core of some of his creations.

Your speaker designs are unusual. Are your designs aimed at different
people and with different lifestyles?

[JM] Design is the reflection of who we are. It expresses our deepest
desires and highest aspirations. It is the catalyst of culture and shapes
the world in which we live. It is through design that we can create the
life we have always wanted to live. My desire is to express the lives
that we wish to live.

Are the speakers the real limiting factor in an audio system? I’ve
heard people say that speaker placement is as important as the speakers
themselves. Some people have told me you need a good amplifier… ect.
Do your designs aim to debunk the importance of speaker placement in a
room – a fool proof system? Or are you just trying to make people more
excited about their audio systems?

[JM] A great audio system design will take into account the entire range of
components and the environment they go into. Everything from the speaker
placement to the sound absorbing room treatments is a consideration.
Every combination creates its own unique experience.
My desire is to create designs that are as expressive as the music that
is played through them. This often leads me to think “outside the box” in
my designs. Unique shapes and combinations of materials are utilized in
my works to provide the desired visual, textural, and, sonic
characteristics.
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Sirano/Payless Collab (Photo by Imaxtree)

The over talented ‘fierce’ designer and winner of Project Runway’s fourth season, Christian Siriano, has collaborated with Payless Shoes. And you’re going to have to wait until September to snatch a pair as they were created for his fall line of ’09 and as always there was good and bad reaction. The shoes come off a bit S&M which turn some people off however the true inspiration for them (as well as his Fall ’09 collection) was Egypt and the great Cleopatra. Which explains why the shoes definitely come with a feel of power, domination, and mystery. What is more to love about the collaboration – oh! well only the fact that they’re actually affordable. The shoes will range from $25 to $45 and get this, he’s gotten hate mail for it! People saying they would never pay that much for shoes, which is a little crazy. Maybe they didn’t take this little fact into consideration: they are designer shoes at a very low price. Other critiques include, that they are too much of copy cat versions of Rodarte’s footwear from a few seasons back. What do I have to say to that? If these are a copy cat version what about the rest of the studded/spiked/chained shoes that have come out recently? I say props to him for making them affordable and as always, fierce.

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